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Cheap Flights from San Diego (SAN) to Shanghai (CSHA)

Compare San Diego International to Shanghai flight deals

Find the cheapest month or even day of the year to fly to Shanghai

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Flight deals from San Diego International to Shanghai

Looking for a cheap last-minute deal or the best return flight from San Diego International to Shanghai? Find the lowest prices on one-way and return tickets right here.
Shanghai.$1,373 per passenger.Departing Thu, 18 Sep, returning Sat, 4 Oct.Return flight with Air China.Outbound indirect flight with Air China, departs from San Diego International on Thu, 18 Sep, arriving in Shanghai Pudong.Inbound indirect flight with Air China, departs from Shanghai Hongqiao on Sat, 4 Oct, arriving in San Diego International.Price includes taxes and charges.From $1,373, select.
Shanghai.$1,575 per passenger.Departing Sat, 1 Nov, returning Sat, 15 Nov.Return flight with Air China.Outbound indirect flight with Air China, departs from San Diego International on Sat, 1 Nov, arriving in Shanghai Hongqiao.Inbound indirect flight with Air China, departs from Shanghai Hongqiao on Sat, 15 Nov, arriving in San Diego International.Price includes taxes and charges.From $1,575, select.
Shanghai.$1,594 per passenger.Departing Sun, 21 Sep, returning Sun, 28 Sep.Return flight with Air China.Outbound indirect flight with Air China, departs from San Diego International on Sun, 21 Sep, arriving in Shanghai Hongqiao.Inbound indirect flight with Air China, departs from Shanghai Hongqiao on Sun, 28 Sep, arriving in San Diego International.Price includes taxes and charges.From $1,594, select.
Shanghai.$1,757 per passenger.Departing Thu, 12 Feb, returning Mon, 23 Feb.Return flight with Air Canada.Outbound indirect flight with Air Canada, departs from San Diego International on Thu, 12 Feb, arriving in Shanghai Pudong.Inbound indirect flight with Air Canada, departs from Shanghai Pudong on Mon, 23 Feb, arriving in San Diego International.Price includes taxes and charges.From $1,757, select.
Shanghai.$1,800 per passenger.Departing Wed, 22 Apr, returning Sat, 25 Apr.Return flight with Alaska Airlines and Asiana Airlines.Outbound indirect flight with Alaska Airlines, departs from San Diego International on Wed, 22 Apr, arriving in Shanghai Pudong.Inbound indirect flight with Asiana Airlines, departs from Shanghai Pudong on Sat, 25 Apr, arriving in San Diego International.Price includes taxes and charges.From $1,800, select.
Shanghai.$1,856 per passenger.Departing Mon, 1 Dec, returning Sun, 21 Dec.Return flight with Air Canada.Outbound indirect flight with Air Canada, departs from San Diego International on Mon, 1 Dec, arriving in Shanghai Pudong.Inbound indirect flight with Air Canada, departs from Shanghai Pudong on Sun, 21 Dec, arriving in San Diego International.Price includes taxes and charges.From $1,856, select.
Shanghai.$2,003 per passenger.Departing Sat, 14 Mar, returning Sat, 4 Apr.Return flight with Delta.Outbound indirect flight with Delta, departs from San Diego International on Sat, 14 Mar, arriving in Shanghai Pudong.Inbound indirect flight with Delta, departs from Shanghai Pudong on Sat, 4 Apr, arriving in San Diego International.Price includes taxes and charges.From $2,003, select.
Shanghai.$2,055 per passenger.Departing Wed, 27 Aug, returning Wed, 1 Oct.Return flight with Japan Airlines.Outbound indirect flight with Japan Airlines, departs from San Diego International on Wed, 27 Aug, arriving in Shanghai Pudong.Inbound indirect flight with Japan Airlines, departs from Shanghai Pudong on Wed, 1 Oct, arriving in San Diego International.Price includes taxes and charges.From $2,055, select.

Find the cheapest month to fly from San Diego International to Shanghai

We’re always keeping an eye on fares, so you can find the best one in seconds. It looks like San Diego International to Shanghai flights are currently cheapest in November.
Aug
from $3,094
Sep
from $1,594
Oct
from $2,070
Nov
from $1,575
Dec
from $1,856
Jan
Find prices
Feb
from $1,757
Mar
Find prices
Apr
from $1,800
May
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Jun
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Jul
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Alternative San Diego International to Shanghai routes

Looking for the cheapest, fastest or easiest route from San Diego International to Shanghai? You could fly into the following airports instead.

San Diego to Shanghai: Flight information

The things to know before you go.
Cheapest flight found$1,373
Cheapest month to flySeptember

Finding cheap flights from San Diego International to Shanghai: Frequently asked questions

There are 2 airports in Shanghai: Shanghai Hongqiao and Shanghai Pudong.
The best price we found for a return flight from San Diego International to Shanghai is $1,373. This is an estimate based on information collected from different airlines and travel providers over the last 4 days and is subject to change and availability.
Currently, there are no airlines that fly direct from San Diego International to Shanghai. But we found flights with one or more stops from $1,373.
As of August 2025, there are no flights flying from San Diego International to Shanghai.
The cheapest month to fly from San Diego International to Shanghai is usually September.
If you're flying from San Diego International Airport, the cheapest airport near Shanghai is Shanghai Pudong – which is 32.7 km away from the centre of Shanghai. We've found flights into this airport from $1,373.
After crunching the numbers on our flight calendar, we found that it's currently cheapest to fly from San Diego International Airport to Shanghai on Thursday, 18 September 2025.
No airlines currently offer direct flights between San Diego International Airport and Shanghai. Most routes have one or more stops.
We show every price from over 1,200 airlines and travel agents, comparing them all so you don’t have to. If you know you want to fly to Shanghai but you’re not ready to book, set up a Price Alert. We’ll track prices for you, and let you know when they rise or fall.
We crunched all the numbers in our flight calendar and it looks like the cheapest time to book a flight to Shanghai is around 40 days in advance, so don’t leave your flight to the last minute.
In August, the average temperature is usually around 27°C. August is typically the warmest month in Shanghai, when it usually averages around 29°C. You can expect the least rain in December. The coldest month is January, with temperatures averaging 4°C. The rainiest month is June.
Currently, Air China offers the cheapest flight tickets to Shanghai.

Flying from San Diego International Airport (SAN) to Shanghai: what you need to know

  • The timezone in Shanghai is UTC+8. The city is 15 hours ahead of San Diego, where San Diego International Airport is located.

  • Leave enough time to catch your SAN to Shanghai flight. It's generally best to arrive two hours before international departures and an hour ahead for domestic flights.

  • Delays at security and check-in are more likely if you're travelling during high season, so give yourself a bit more breathing room. A good rule of thumb for peak periods? Get there up to four hours early for international flights and two hours for domestic departures.

  • A stopover is the perfect opportunity to take a break from travelling and maybe even tick a new city off your list. When browsing for flight tickets from SAN to Shanghai, uncheck the 'Direct flights only' box to see where you can stop along the way. Popular options include:

    • Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)

    • Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)

    • San Francisco International Airport (SFO)

  • SAN is around 3 kilometres from central San Diego. If you're catching a cab, ride-sharing or driving from the centre, it'll take 10 minutes or so to get there, depending on traffic conditions. If you're planning to take public transport, expect the travel time to be around 20 minutes.

  • Want a stress-free start to your journey? Stay near SAN. Whether you're boarding an early flight from San Diego International Airport to Shanghai or don't want departure day to feel hectic, these hotels are worth a look:

  • 71.38% of flights that take off from San Diego International Airport make it to their destination on schedule.

  • SAN is located at N Harbour Dr.

How to find the cheapest flights from San Diego International Airport (SAN) to Shanghai

  • $890 is currently the best price for a one-way San Diego International Airport to Shanghai flight. A return flight ticket starts at $1,373. These prices may change based on availability and demand.

  • Booking ahead of time is often the key to finding a cheap flight from SAN to Shanghai. Flight prices rise as demand increases, so the nearer you get to departure, the more you'll likely spend.

  • If you're willing to be flexible with your trip dates, check out the 'Whole month' search tool. It'll find the lowest price across each month when searching for your San Diego International Airport to Shanghai ticket.

  • There's no need to check back in every day to see if fares have dropped when you set up a Price Alert. We'll let you know the moment there's an even better deal on cheap flights from SAN to Shanghai.

  • Snag an affordable flight from San Diego International Airport to Shanghai with the help of our filters. Select your preferred departure time, duration and airlines, then sort the results by 'Cheapest' for the best deals.

Airports in Shanghai

Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG)

Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA)

  • After your flight from San Diego International Airport to Shanghai has landed, you can reach the city centre in about 20 minutes by car. Central Shanghai is roughly 14 kilometres from Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA).

  • Place the 'Do not disturb' sign on your door and relax at a hotel close to SHA. Here are a few options where you can kick back after your SAN to Shanghai flight:

  • Pick up a Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport rental car and unlock more experiences with your own set of wheels. Hertz is just moments from baggage claim, so you'll be on the road in a flash.

  • Get your ideal vehicle, not just what's left, by booking your ride from SHA in advance. You'll also avoid last-minute price hikes, especially when demand is high.

  • The address for Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport is 700 Yingbin 1st Rd.

Best time to go to Shanghai

  • Before locking in your flights from San Diego International Airport to Shanghai, consider which time of year works best for you. Peak season in Shanghai offers a lively atmosphere and plenty to do, while the low season means you'll get better hotel deals and smaller crowds.

  • Before booking a San Diego International Airport to Shanghai flight ticket, think about the type of weather you enjoy. August is the warmest month in Shanghai, with temperatures ranging from 23ºC (73ºF) to 34ºC (93ºF).

  • If you like cooler conditions, look for a cheap ticket from SAN to Shanghai in January when temperatures average between -1ºC (30ºF) and 10ºC (50ºF).

More about Shanghai

Explore more of China

  • Nanjing is just one of the many places in China waiting to be explored once you've taken in the sights of Shanghai. Around 274 kilometres away to the west, check out popular attractions including Nanjing City Wall, Nanjing Massacre Memorial Hall and Xuanwu Lake.

  • If you're ready to explore another side of China, head for Puyang, about 241 kilometres south-west of Shanghai. Denggao Lansheng Building, Baozhang Yougu Scenic Area and 元宝山探险乐园 are key reasons to visit.

Plan the rest of your trip from San Diego to Shanghai

Prices shown on this page are estimated lowest prices only. Found in the last 45 days.